Telangana groups observe first anniversary!

HYDERABAD: Telangana groups Thursday marked the first anniversary of the centre’s commencing the process of forming a Telangana state and demanded that a bill on this be immediately tabled in parliament.

At least half a dozen Telangana groups paid homage to those who laid down their lives for the cause of a separate state. They were also holding meetings to mark the one year of the announcement.

It was on this day in 2009 that Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had made the announcement following a 11-day hunger strike by Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao and massive street protests across the region.

Though TRS has postponed its massive public meeting scheduled at Warangal to Dec 16 due to rains, others were going ahead with their programmes.

Mild tension brewed when the leaders of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Telangana Forum reached there to pay homage. Police had to intervene to avert a clash between the two groups.

TDP leader N. Janardhan Reddy demanded that the government immediately withdraw the cases against students and others who participated in the Telangana movement.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit is holding a sit-in at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding a bill in the parliament.

Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) is also holding meetings at various parts to mark the day. JAC convenor M. Kodandaram has called upon people to hoist Telangana flag in every village and demand the government to fulfill its promise made last year. Osmania University Joint Action Committee is also organising various programmes.

Meanwhile, some organisations in coastal Andhra are observing Thursday as "betrayal day". United Andhra Joint Action Committee was organising meetings and to oppose bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

The day is being observed at a time when Srikrishna committee, formed by the central government in February this year, is busy drafting its report. The panel is to submit its report by Dec 31.

Telangana groups have already warned of "bloodbath" if Srikrishna committee makes no recommendation for formation of Telangana state.

The panel was formed to look into the demand for Telangana state after protests in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions against the proposed bifurcation of the state.

Last year’s announcement by the central government came after huge protests in Telangana, which comprises 10 districts, including Hyderabad.

"The process of forming the state of Telangana will be initiated. An appropriate resolution will be moved in the state assembly," said the statement read out by Chidambaram on the night of Dec 9, 2009.

The statement was made as the TRS chief’s condition had turned critical and large-scale violence was feared during the march to assembly planned by the TRS and students the next day.(IANS)